Fringed boots, exotic headgear, elaborate makeup, bohemian dresses, statement accessories that announce your hipster status… Music Festivals are hunting grounds for the edgiest fashionistas. Or so the stunning, stylish photographs can make you think. Often, the reality involves rain, and it comes down heavy on your parade. Like it did in Ziro, where I went last month, for the Ziro Festival of Music. Thunderstorm, landslide, car stuck in a ditch, rain lashing our campsite; boy, the waters came down on us. But, there was no running mascara, water-damaged bags, and mud soaked shoes on my watch!
Here is a simple list for those who check weather updates before they tread, and will be ones smiling, come hail, rain or storm. For more tips on this topic, don’t forget to read these Best Music Festival Packing List Tips from 18 Festival Experts . Yours truly is featured among the list. Don’t forget to comment with the tips you find most useful!
Rain Boots
Heels are a definite NO in any music festival. But even your comfortable dance shoes and open sandals cannot stand the watery onslaught. So flip out that wallet, and invest in a pair of rain boots. Happy feet make happy people. Make sure your footwear keeps you dry while navigating those drenched grounds with puddles. Nearly everyone was wearing rain boots at the ZFM. Blue, red, purple, golden and black. You saw them everywhere. They were the most ubiquitous style statement of the festival grounds. Plus, on mucky, slippery grounds, they prevented a lot of falls.
A Plastic Poncho Or Raincoat
You aren’t really a hipster if you cannot rock an emergency rain poncho or a raincoat. Unless getting drenched and shivering in cold is your preferred style statement, pack these in. Nope, umbrellas won’t do. Because with rain comes wind, and umbrellas are no help then. And with you standing holding an umbrella is going to be no jy ride for people standing behind you, their view obstructed. So, a raincoat or a plastic poncho it is.
Waterproof Backpack
I am an ambassador for backpacks during music festivals. How else do you you’re your hands free for eating, drinking, and dancing? You could work it with a cross-body bag, but I have been a backpack girl since I was a festival virgin. When rain is expected, carry a waterproof backpack, or at-least carry a waterproof cover for the bag. Even with a water resistant bag, I’d suggest keeping your electronics and other valuables in zip-lock bags. Believe me, nothing kills the happy vibe like a phone or a camera that died a watery death! And you can still operate an iPhone through a zip-lock bag, fyi! As a last minute solution, heavy duty trash bags also work great as bag protectors. Just keep one folded inside your bag.
Keep It Short
Dress, shorts or a short skirt is your best option when there are huge chances of rain, because pants and jeans will bring you down on first contact with water and mud. Those portable toilets will make you thank yourself for skipping that cute jumpsuit. Darker colours and fabrics that dry quickly will keep you in the sane lane. I wore shorts for most part of my trip, and would only change into quick drying track pants for those cold nights.
Extras That Matter
I carried an extra large, thick trash bag to sit on, when the ground got all muddy and all that dancing got to my feet.
And yes, a couple of snack bars and reusable water bottle, because who wants to stand in a long queue when thirst comes calling!
A packet of baby wipes, because too many people use those toilet seats, and they often run out of water.
